From Knowledge

In the United States, up to 75% of all brides receive engagement rings made from diamonds and gold. Not every bride is the same and many prefer silver, but there is one type of gold engagement ring that has been growing in popularity in recent years: rose gold.

From jewelry to electronics, rose gold has slowly been taking over multiple industries because of its soft, peaceful color and unique flair that stands out among the others. What’s more is that rose gold, when used for engagement rings, come in a variety of styles that can make any bride happy.

If you’re still deciding whether to choose a silver, gold, or rose gold bridal jewelry, here’s why you should consider opting for rose gold:

Rose gold has a vintage look

Rose gold has a wonderful, vintage and romantic look to it unlike other metals, and not just because of its pink hue. Rose gold was incredibly popular during the 1920s during the American age of wealth. Stylish women and men flocked to their jeweler for vivid colors like rose gold to incorporate them into fine jewelry designs.

Rose gold is incredibly affordable

Because rose gold is made up of approximately 22.5% copper and 75% gold with a little silver to make the color more subtle (higher percentages of copper alloy makes the color a brighter red), rose gold comes at an affordable price point.

Rose gold compliments all skin tones

Many brides of various ethnicity will often compare gold and silver to their skin tones to see which color looks the best. Whether you’re dark skinned or light skinned, warm-toned or cool-toned, rose gold compliments every bride.

Rose gold can be used in any design

Rose gold can be used in a wide range of outstanding bridal jewelry and various types of wedding rings. With multiple types of stones, finding a ring with a jeweler that’s custom fit to your style will be far easier than you think.

Rose gold is not only a timeless and romantic color, but it also makes for an incredibly unique and beautiful engagement ring. For more ideas about how you can incorporate rose gold into your custom jewelry design, talk to your local jeweler today.

August’s birthstone is PERIDOT!

Peridot [per-i-doh] artifacts and mining date back to as early as 1500 B.C. Ancient Romans were big fans of Peridot. Cleopatra also loved Peridots, but probably because she mistook them for her favorite gem – emeralds.

Some of the legendary uses of Peridot were to calm anger and sooth nerves, ward against evil, and nurture friendships. Peridot was believed to bring luck, success, and peace to its wearer. With lore like that, it’s no surprise that relics decorated with Peridot can be found in Medieval churches in Europe.

As opposed to stones like sapphire and garnet that come in many colors, Peridot only comes in green. It can range from yellowish green to brownish green to true green. Yellowish green is the color most often found in jewelry.

Miners can find Peridot around the world, including Myanmar and China. One of the largest sources on Earth is here in the U.S. – on the San Carlos Apache Reservation in Arizona. Some Peridot gems have even been found in meteorites!

April’s birthstone is diamond!

Diamonds, they’ve been prized for millennia. What is about diamonds that has captivated us for so long? Maybe the ancient myth that they were pieces of stars fallen to Earth has stuck with us. Maybe the fact that there is no natural substance harder than diamonds impresses us. Maybe the thought of its being the only gemstone made of a single element (carbon – the foundation of life) makes it special. Whatever the reason, diamonds have made their mark on popular culture and our ideas of romance and success.

As a symbol of fearlessness and invincibility, diamonds are a popular choice for crown jewels and accessories for royalty. Symbolic of love, diamonds are intertwined with our thoughts of engagements and weddings.

Anyone who has shopped for a diamond probably knows of the 4Cs, carat, cut, color, and clarity. All of these characteristics describe a diamond and ultimately affect its worth.

Carat – the weight of the diamond. Are you replacing a .05ct accent stone in your ring mounting? Looking for a 1.00ct center stone for your engagement ring? Trying to decide on earrings featuring .50ctw or .75ctw? The size of the stone is one of the first things that affects the price. Balance a larger stone with a less desirable traits and give yourself some wiggle room on price.

Cut – Round Brilliant, Princess, Oval, Marquise, there are many different shapes of diamonds. The better the cut (regardless of shape), the brighter the stone.

Color – Graded on a D-Z scale. The closer to colorless (D-F), the higher the value, except in cases of fancy colors.

Clarity – Internal features and surface irregularities (inclusions and blemishes) affect a diamond’s clarity grade. There are 11 clarity grades on the GIA grading scale. The better the clarity, the higher the value.

Stop by our showroom today and speak with one of our knowledgeable staff members about how to get you the best diamond for your dollar!

pear-shape diamond stud earrings

round brilliant cut diamond stud earrings

yellow gold and two diamonds

white gold ring with three diamonds

rose gold ring with 7 diamond cluster

white gold and diamonds

Yellow gold and diamonds

Happy Birthday, April Babies!

March’s birthstone is Aquamarine!

As a member of the Beryl family of gemstones, Aquamarine is a color variety like Emerald and Morganite. Its name is Latin for seawater and Aquamarine quickly became a talisman for sailors, who would throw the gems into the sea as payments to Poseidon for safe journeys. Legendarily, Poseidon would gift Aquamarines to mermaids. Folklore has also long associated Aquamarine with healing and sustaining youthful love. This gem makes a perfect gift for married couples and it is the traditional anniversary gift for the 19th year.

Aquamarine gemstones typically undergo a permanent heat treatment to improve color. The rich deep blue color is the most valuable.

Use warm, soapy water to clean your Aquamarine jewelry. Ultrasonic and steam cleaners are usually safe if no inclusions or feathers are present in the stone.

Happy Birthday, March Babies!

February’s Birthstone is Amethyst!

Amethyst, the purple variety of quartz, has a full history and folklore. Scholars believe the name comes from the Greek word amethustos, which means “not drunken.” According to Greek mythology, amethyst was the rock crystal of the dyed tears of Dionysus, the god of wine and mischief. Bacchus is his Roman counterpart. Both Greeks and Romans wore amethyst to prevent intoxication, going as far as to make cups out of it to help keep them sober.

With its rich purple color, it is unsurprising that amethysts have long been linked to royalty and crown jewels. The Bible mentions amethysts several times and in the past, Christian bishops often wore amethyst rings. Leonardo Da Vinci was another amethyst enthusiast; he believed the gem could make evil thoughts disappear and increase intelligence.

Major sources of amethyst include Brazil, Uruguay, and Zambia. Their colors can range from pale lilac (sometimes referred as “Rose De France”) to deep purples. Today, most amethysts undergo a permanent heat treating process to enhance the color.

Amethyst has a hardness rating of 7, which means it is suitable for all types of mountings, even rings and bracelets. Clean your amethyst jewelry with warm soapy water. Ultrasonic cleaners are usually safe, but steamers are risky.

Although the history of garnet as jewelry can be traced from the Egyptians to ancient Greek and Roman empires, the origin of the word itself is up for debate. One theory claims a derivative from the Latin word “granatus”, in reference to pomegranate seeds. Another notion of the word’s origin comes from the middle English word “gernet” which means dark red.

Because garnets have such a rich history, they also have a rich lore. Traditionally seen as a healing stone, garnets are said to help with the circulatory system, fevers, and general good health. Another interesting tidbit – Noah supposedly made a garnet lantern for the front of the ark to guide him during his voyage.

Most people are familiar with the beautiful deep reds associated with garnets. However, garnet is actually a name that encompasses a six minerals with a common crystal structure, but different chemical compositions. Just a few: Spessartite is a reddish orange – yellow orange, Rhodolite is a light to dark purplish red, Tsavorite is a light to dark green.

Clean your garnet jewelry in warm, soapy water. Ultrasonic cleaners are usually safe. Never use in a steamer.

One of the world’s newest gemstones, Tanzanite was only discovered in 1967. The first Tanzanite crystals were originally mistaken for sapphires and mines sprung up to capitalize on the new-found source. In spite of the mistaken identity, Tanzanite quickly became popular in its own right.

Because Tanzanite is commercially mined in only one location, the Merelani Hills of Tanzania, they are actually rarer than diamonds. Tanzanite is pleochroic, or shows one of three different colors depending on the direction from which the stone is viewed. Rough Tanzanite is usually brown and then the crystals are heat treated to bring out the rich blues and violets.
Clean your Tanzanite jewelry in warm soapy water. Avoid chemicals, hard blows, and ultrasonic or steam cleaners.

Happy Birthday December Babies!

November’s Birthstone is CITRINE!

Found primarily in Brazil, Citrine, a variety of quartz, comes from around the world. Its name is derived from the French word for lemon. With a color range from pale yellow to reddish-brown, this sunny gemstone promotes happiness and cheer and blocks negative energy. Also believed to enhance creativity, Citrine was very popular during the Art Deco period between WWI and WWII. Be sure to protect your Citrine from scratches and prolonged exposure to heat.

Happy Birthday, November Babies!

October’s birthstone is OPAL!

The opal has long been a sought-after gemstone, with the earliest known opal artifacts dating back to about 4000 B.C. Some of the first beliefs surrounding this unique stone include its capability to amplify feelings, promote spontaneity, and enhance psychic abilities. Opals are also known as symbols of hope and purity.

Most opals come from Australia, with Lightning Ridge being one of the most famous mines. Opals are described by their background color (bodycolor) and how their play-of-color displays against it. The five types are: White or Light Opal, Black Opal, Fire Opal, Boulder Opal, and Crystal or Water Opal. Fire Opals have a warm bodycolor and don’t often show play-of-color. Boulder Opals have dark bodycolor and parts of the surrounding rock are incorporated into the finished gem.

One of the more delicate gemstones, opals need protection from scratches, household chemicals, and temperature changes. Clean your opals with warm soapy water to help keep their brilliance. Avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaners.

September’s birthstone is SAPPHIRE!

History & Folklore

Derived from the Latin word for blue, “sapphires” were believed to be the guardians of love. Ancient Persians believed the Earth rested on an enormous blue sapphire, and its reflection caused the blueness of the sky.

Traditionally, sapphires have been worn as amulets to protect against disease and to grant peace and happiness. A gift of sapphire represents loyalty and love. With all this symbolism, it’s no wonder that the British Crown Jewels are full of large blue sapphires!

Facts about Sapphires

Fine sapphires were originally mined in India, specifically in the Himalayas. Newer sources of sapphires include Thailand, Australia, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Myanmar, and Kenya.

The most valuable sapphires possess an intense, light violet-blue color. However, beautiful sapphires can come in a range of colors, such as pink, yellow, green, and purple. The pinkish-orange sapphire even has its own name – Padparadscha, which is Sinhalese for “Lotus Flower”.

With a hardness rating of 9, sapphires do well in all types of jewelry settings and have even become quite popular as a center stone for engagement rings. You can safely clean your sapphire jewelry in warm, soapy water or bring your pieces in for professional cleaning and inspection. We’ll get you bright and shiny in no time!